Haworthia Cooperi var. Truncata Care & Propagation

Haworthia Cooperi is a popular small growing succulent native to South America. There are a few variaties of Haworthia Cooperi and they can get quite easily confused. In this post we will talk about Haworthia Cooperi var. Truncata. This succulent is also known as Haworthia obtusa f. truncata, Obtusa or the Window Plant.

While Haworthia Cooperi and all its varieties are easy plants to grow there are a few things to know about this succulent. The information below is based on growing hundreds of these succulents at our nursery Fern Farm Plants.

Description

Haworthia Cooperi var. Truncata is an evergreen succulent with blue-green leaves and translucent tip. The leaves are arranged in a rosette shape and form dense clumps.

Haworthia Cooperi can be found in nature in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. All the varieties of Haworthia Cooperi have see through, window like tip of the leaf. The reason for this is the strong sun in its natural environment. To protect themselves from the sun, Haworthia Cooperi var. Truncata grows mostly buried in sand with only the ‘window’ exposed. This way the plant still gets enough sunlight to preform photosynthesis and transform sun’s energy into growing energy.

In cultivation, there is no need for Haworthia Cooperi to grow under the ground as they are unlikely to encounter harsh sun and most advice (rightly) says to grow this succulent in part shade and avoid strong sun. Thanks to this we can enjoy all of the beautiful and intriguing leaves of this wonderful succulent.

The colour can change slightly depending on the seasons and sun exposure. In the cooler months, Haworthia can turn slightly brownish. This can also happen if the plant is exposed to the sun too much.

Haworthia Cooperi is a small growing plant and individual rosettes are unlikely to measure over 8cm in diameter. Pups or offsets are produced mostly at the base.

Small white flowers with a green streak running through appear on a tall stalk a couple of times per year, mostly in spring.

Haworthia Cooperi Varieties

• Haworthia Cooperi var. cooperi
• Haworthia Cooperi var. dielsiana
• Haworthia Cooperi var. doldii
• Haworthia Cooperi var. gordoniana
• Haworthia Cooperi var. gracilis
• Haworthia Cooperi var. isabellae
• Haworthia Cooperi var. leightonii
• Haworthia Cooperi var. picturata
• Haworthia Cooperi var. pilifera
• Haworthia Cooperi var. tenera
• Haworthia Cooperi var. truncata
• Haworthia Cooperi var. venusta
• Haworthia Cooperi var. viridis

Position & Care

Haworthia Cooperi and its varieties are quite easy to grow. They can survive harsh conditions and drought for extended periods. To always have it look its best and avoid dry tips or sunburn it is best to keep this plant in filtered light and water regularly.

While Haworthia Cooperi is not frost tolerant, it will survive outdoors if the temperature does not fall much below 1C/33F. Mild frost should not kill this succulent but it is likely to cause burns on the foliage. It is best to avoid exposing Haworthia Cooperi to any frost.

The best appearance is achieved when Haworthia Cooperi var. Truncata is grown under shade-cloth/ in bright shade with a little bit of morning sun/ in filtered light. Exposing it to strong sun should be avoided as the UV can burn the leaves. In severe heatwaves plants not used to being exposed to the sun can easily die too if they find themselves in full sun.

Haworthia Cooperi var. truncata is a common houseplant and can survive indoors well, though it should be grown in as much light as possible, preferably in a sunny room with some sun directly hitting the plant. Do be careful with windowsill plants in summer as afternoon sun passing through the window will intensify and can burn plants sitting immediately behind it. Windowsills that get morning sun are ideal.

Haworthia Cooperi is a fantastic pot plant and can survive in smaller pots for a long time. The growth in small pots will be slow. To grow bigger plants with offsets, repotting is recommended every year, using fresh succulent potting mix.

Haworthia Cooperi is also suitable for the garden (frost free) and will love a shaded spot.

Although Haworthia Cooperi can survive long periods of drought, it will respond to regular watering by growing bigger and faster. Underwatered plants can turn brown.

In the garden watering can be left to the rain (unless it hasn’t rained for a couple of weeks) while in pots it is recommended to water thoroughly when the potting mix has dried up.

Use succulent potting mix for best results.

Propagation

Haworthia Cooperi can be propagated by offsets, bulbil & seeds. By far the easiest way to propagate is by separation of offsets. As for seeds, while possible, it can prove difficult to raise this plant from seed.

Haworthia Cooperi var. truncata is quite easy to propagate by offsets. They will often have roots of their own once separated from the mother plant. The trick is to wait for the pups to get big enough as they are easier to pull off. The clumps can get incredibly tight (as you can see in the video), but taking the whole plant out of the pot and starting at the bottom will make it easier for them to snap off.

It is unlikely this plant will grow from leaves, at least I was never able to propagate any Cooperi variety this way.

Haworthia also often produce bulbil on its flower stem. Bulbil will look like an offset and once big enough can be twisted off the stem or cut with stem still intact, and planted.

Growing Haworthia Cooperi from seed is quite possible, but can prove difficult. One, it can be hard to find a reliable seed seller that will actually sell you seed that has not been contaminated with other pollen of other succulents/ sell seeds that are viable. Two germination of the seeds can be also be unreliable and three, it can take a very long time (years) for a seed to grow to a decent sized plant.

I have grown Haworthia from seed before and it does take over a year to end up with a plant that is not much bigger than a small pup.

Whichever propagation method is used, Haworthia Cooperi should only be propagated in the growing season. This would be spring, summer and beginning of autumn, though do be careful young plants do not get burned in strong summer sun and always provide bright shade.

Pests

Haworthia Cooperi is susceptible to all the usual succulent pests, but it is not their favourite. Aphids can attack the flowers and freshly grown tender leaves, while mealy bugs can settle down where the leaves grow close together as well as attack the root system. Slugs and snails really seem to love this plant.

For a list of animals that like to eat succulents, you can read another one of our articles here. We also have a separate, in-depth article about mealy bugs and aphids.

Toxicity

Haworthia Cooperi var. Truncata is listed as non toxic to humans, cats, dogs, other pets or livestock.

Where can I get it?

Haworthia Cooperi and many of its varieties can be easily found in nurseries around the world. If you can’t find it in store try online nurseries.